Tape applying machine



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 27, 1959 FIG. I

E. F. SMALL 3,012,261

TAPE APPLYING MACHINE Dec. 12, 1961 Dec. 12, 1961 E. F. SMALL 3,012,261

TAPE APPLYING MACHINE Filed Jan. 27, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

Dec. 12, 1961 E. F. SMALL TAPE APPLYING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledJan. 27, 1959 FIG.

INVEVTOR. (S/vend United States Patent O 3,012,261 TAPE APPLYIN GMACHINE Edward F. Small, Newton, Mass., assigner to Prime ManufacturingCompany, Lynn, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Jan. 27,1959, Ser. No. 789,377 10 Claims. (Cl. 12-59.5)

This invention comprises a new and improved machine for applyingadhesive tape to parts of shoe uppers and is characterized by means forautomatically setting the operating instrumentalities of the machine foraction by the presentation of the work thereto.

Machines of this type have heretofore included a treadle or manualdevices which must be depressed or moved by the operator in order toopen guides for the work, space feeding devices, or make otherpreliminary settings of the machine parts. In accordance with thepresent invention all such devices are eliminated and instead means areprovided for initially holding the instrumentalities of the machine ininoperative positions, in combination with a trigger operated bypresentation of the work to the machine and connections for moving theinstrumentalities into operative relation with the work and the tape.

For example, the machine here shown comprises a rotary work support, acooperating presser member and a tape-cutting knife together with meansfor initially holding the presser member and knife in inoperativepositions and also a trigger located so that it is naturally engaged bythe work as it is presented to the rotary support and connectedmechanism for moving the presser member and knife into operativepositions. This not only facilitates the work of the operator butimproves the accuracy of the operation and eliminates false starts andincidental damage that have been seriousk obstacles and the cause ofconsiderable loss to manufacturers relying upon older types of tapelaying machines.

These and other features of the invention will be best understand andappreciated from the following description of a preferred embodimentthereof, selected for purposes of illustration and shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FiG. 1 is a view of the machine in side elevation with its parts inworking positions,

FiG. 2 is a similar view showing the parts of the machine in theirinitial inoperative positions,

3 is a fragmentary view of the machine in front elevation,

i233. 4 is a detailed view of the driving gear system,

FiG. 5 is a view in perspective of the tape cutting knife shown on anenlarged scale, l

PEG. 6 is a view in elevation of parts shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with thespider omitted,

FiG. 7 is a fragmentary front view of the parts shown FIG. 6, and

EEG. 8 is a fragmentary View, partly in elevation and part y in sectionon the line 3-'3 of FIG. 7.

The frame of the machine takes the form of a hollow column or casing 1dto which is secured a forked bracket 11 in the upper end of which ismounted a work supporting roll 12 upon a transverse shaft 13. The roll12 as shown in FIG. 3 has a central circumferential section of reduceddiameter in which is located a stationary horn 14 having an angled orbevelled periphery which acts as a seam guide when the work comprisesthe back seam of an upper. In dealing with such work the horn 14 runs inthe crease of the back seam of the upperwhile the adjacent margins ofthe counter are flattened and covered by a length of adhesive tape. Thehorn is shown as secured to a lug projecting from the bracket 11.

l 3,012,261 ratented Dec. 12, 1961 Also mounted in the bracket 11 is atrigger 15. This is arranged to swing about a pivot 16 and has aninwardly projecting ear which engages the operating button of amicroswitch 17. The trigger 15 as shown in FIG. 3 has at its upper end awide pad which, in the initial position of the trigger is located ashort vdistance from lthe circumference of the work supporting roll 12.The spring of the operating button of the switch holds the trigger inthis position as shown in FIG. 2 and the trigger is so located that itis engaged by presentation of the work W to the roll 12 and caused tomove in an anti-clockwise direction from the position shown in FIG. 2 tothe position shown in FIG. l. ln this movement the trigger opens anelectric circuit through the microswitch 17 with results which will bepresently described. The operator usually presents the work to themachine by holding it with both hands, one on each side of the back seamand of the trigger 15.

A large feed roll Zit is rotatably mounted upon a shaft 21 incooperative feeding relation to the work supporting roll 12. Y The shaft21 is rotated clockwise through several reducing gears from a small gearupon the shaft 22 as shown in FIG.. 4. The shaft 22 carries a drivingpulley at its outer end not shown and a hand wheel 23. The main shaft 22operates a second `gear train 24, 25 secured to a small shaftcontinuously driving a small feed wheel 26 which as shown in FIGS. l and2 cooperates with the work supporting roll 12 to engage and advance thework W and the tape T when these elements are introduced between theroll 12 and the small feed roll 26.

A shaft 3i) is mounted on top of the machine casing 10 and upon this ismounted a spider 32 biased always to rock in a clockwise direction by atorsion spring 31 which encircles the shaft 30. The operation of thespring 31 is to hold the machine parts in their operative position shownin FIG. 1. The spider has an arm eX- tending toward the left as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 and to the outer end of this arm is connected a link 33which is pivotally connected at its lower end to the plunger 34 of asolenoid 35 fast to the rear side of the casing 10. Electricalconnections 36 run from the solenoid 35 to the microswitch 17 with theresult that when the trigger 15 is rocked toward the work supportingroll 12 in the presentation of the work the switch 17 is open, thesolenoid 35 de-energized and the machine parts are held in theiroperative positions as shown in FIG. 1 bythe action of the spring 31.

The spider is provided with an upwardly extending arm 37 which engagesan adjustable stop 38 and thus limits the clockwise spring activatedmovement into operative position of the spider and its connected parts.The

spider has also a forwardly extending arm 40 carrying a pivot pin 42upon which is mounted a rocker 41 of bell crank shape. The shaft 39 inaddition to the spider carries an upstanding arm 43 upon which ismounted a spring 44 tending at all times to swing the rocker 41 in aclockwise direction. A downwardly extending arm 45 is pivotallyv mountedat its upper end upon an ear projecting from the machine frame, as bestshownin FIG. 6. A cam follower roll 46 is operated byra cam 47 mountedto oscillate upon the shaft 21. The spider 32 has an arm 43 carrying atits lower end a roll which is engaged in a slot Jfig-in the cam 47. 'InFIG. 2 the spider is shown as being rocked into its eXtreme left hand orinoperative position by the action of the solenoid thereby oscillatingthe cam 47 so that its highest point engages the follower roll 46 andswings the rocker 41 outwardly. The rocker 41, with all the partsmounted thereon, may be swung approximately in an anticlockwisedirection about the pivot 42 and will be held into theY machine.

sheet metal leaves as shown in FIG. 3 which are securedV Vthe tapepasses.

to. LInrotber words, the .spring 474` is adapted to hold the rocker 41in either of two positions on the arm 40 viz. that shown in FIGS. l and2 or an outer position opening the elements of theV machine'forinspection, cleaning, etc,

The cam lfollower roll 46 is mounted upon an arm located behind the arm45 and which is a part of the assembly mounted to rock about the pivot42 including K the block 53 referred to hereinafter.

The machine is equipped with a forked presser or work guide 50 whichcooperates with the work supporting roll 12 in holding and guiding thework as itis introduced This guide comprises two diverging Y guide 50.The block 53 is rigidly attached to the lower arm-of the belli crankrocker 41; accordingly, when the spider is swung by the Vspring 31 tothe limit stop 38 the presser guide 50 is held inoperative position onthe work by pressure of the spring'44 upon the rocker 41 backed by theholding pressure of the spring 31 on'the spider which yieldinglyprevents :the guide from relaxing its en-` gagement with the work. Y

A tape severing knife 56, hest'shown in FIG. 5, is mounted. upon a shaft57 journaled in an ear projecting 4 f extends upwardly from the shaft 30and is pivotally connected at'its upper end tothe link 73.

In operation the advancing edge of the Work trips the trigger, thuscausing therinstrumentalities ofthe machine to move into their operativeposition and holding them there so long as the work engages the trigger.At the instant when the trailing edge of the work passes beyond thetrigger the latter swings outwardly closingz the microswitch 17,energizing the solenoid 35 and causing all parts of the machine toreassume their initial positions.

Having thus disclosed my Yinvention and described in detail anillustrative embodimentV thereof I claim as new Vand desire to secure byLetters Patent:

tactedby the work for automatically lowering the forked from the cam 47.Atits rear end the shaft 57 carries knifeY 56 out of the path of thetape tis-indicated in FIG.

guide into contactl with the' work.

2. VA machine for laying reinforcingtape, comprising a rotary worksupport, an overhead guide initially spaced from theV support andmovable into guiding contact with work thereon, a trigger located inAadvance of the support and in position to be engaged by work presentedthereto, spring means tending to move the overhead guide into operativeposition, a solenoid connected with the guide and maintaining itnormallyV in its overhead position, and connections operated bythetrigger fonde-energizingV the solenoid upon the presentation of thework.

3. Ak machine for laying adhesive tape comprising a work-supportingroll, and a cooperating pivotally mounted presser member, a spider towhich said presser memi ber is connected', a spring tending to rock thespider and 1. The tape as best shown in ElG. Vl is led to the machinebetween guide rolls Vjournaled in the upper end of an arm 62 projectingupwardly from the rear side of the machine frame. From these rolls thetape passes through a wire guide 63 between guide rolls 64 anddownwardly through a llat tape guide 39. y

The machine includes automatic means for advancing the tape to the biteof the feed roll 26 when-the'trigger '15 is tripped. and the presser 50brought intoits operative position. VTo this end a rocker plate 7i) ispivotally mountedV to swing about the axis of a pin 71 in the top ofthernachine frame. At its free end the rocker 70 carriesv ankintermittently oscillated feed wheel 72 over which This feed wheel isoscillated forwardpresser member in one direction, and a solenoidenergized to rock the spider and presser member in the other direction.v l

4. A machine for laying adhesive tape as described in claim 3, furthercharacterized by a trigger pivotally mounted adiacent to thework-supporting 'roll in position to` be tripped by the work aspresented tojsaid roll, an

f electric switch operated by the trigger, and electric connectionsbetween the switch and the solenoid.

ly through connections with a horizontal link 73 which is activated bythe arm 48. An adjusting'arm 74 con-l nected to the rocker 70'througl1 acurved slot permits adjustment regulating the throw of the feed wheel 72by moving the point of connectionv of the arm 72 nearer to' or furtherfrom the axis of the rocker 70. A clampving plate 75 carried by an arm76 is arranged to engage' the tape for feeding it and to hold it againstretrogression.V The arm 76 is mounted on a pivot projectingtransvers'ely4 fromithe rocker 70 and is urged downwardly'by a verticaltension spring 70 as shown in FIG. 6. Itis lifted by a drop-off cam 72on theV shaft of the rollV 72 and when releasedV by this cam the plate75 engages the' ly severed end of the tape so thatV it will be engaged,beiV j tween. the feed roll 26 and the work which. is being-inftroduced upon thework-supportingA roll 12. The arm/48- 5. A machine forlaying adhesive tape as described in claim 3, further characterized byan oscillating tape-cuttingi knife, 'and operating mechanism thereforcontrolled by the release of said trigger bythe Work.

6. A machine for laying adhesiveV tape as described in claim 5, furthercharacterized by a cam oscillated by said spider, and operativeconnections between the cam on *thel one hand and both the pressuremember and knife on the other hand for moving said presser member andknife simultaneously.

7:. A machine:v for applying tape to shoe parts and the`like,`comprisin'g a rotary work support, aV cooperating presser member,and a tape-cutting knife, means for initially holding the presser memberand knife in inoperative positions, a trigger operated by presentationof the Work tothe work support and connected mechanism for moving saidpresser member and knife into operative positions'.

8. A machine for laying adhesive tape on parts of shoe Y uppers,comprising a rotary work'support, an overhead guide initially spacedlabove `the support, a trigger located adjacent to the support, tapefeeding means, and mechanism controlled by the triggerfor simultaneouslylowering the guide into contact with work on the support and actuatingthe tape feeding means. A c

9. A machine' for laying adhesive tape on parts of shoe. uppers and thelike, comprising a Ywork supporting roll, a cooperating feed roll, anoscillatory spider pivotally mounted above said feed roll and havingarms eXd tending iny opposite directions from its axis of oscilla--tion, a solenoid connected to one of said arms, a work guide cooperatingwith the' work supporting roll` and` con-4 trollably connected to theother of said arms, and a spring acting on the spider in opposition tothe solenoid.

10. A machine for laying adhesive tape on shoe parts and the like,comprising a work-supporting roll, a cooperating feed roll, and a cammounted for oscillation about the axis of the feed roll, a spidermounted to rock on an axis above the cam and having operatingconnections therewith, a trigger-controlled solenoid connected to thespider for rocking it in one direction and a spring for rocking it inthe opposite direction, together with a Work guide movable toward andfrom the Work-supporting roll through the medium of the spider inaccordance with the oscillation of said cam.

References Cited in the file of this patent 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS2,203,977 Bennett June 11, 1940 2,223,209 Groh et al. Nov. 26, 19402,652,166 Johnson Sept. 15, 1953 10 2,871,493 Vachon Feb. 3, 1959

